Finland will scale back some of its coronavirus restrictions early, the government announced as the strain on the healthcare system eases despite the Omicron wave sweeping the continent.
Starting 1 February, curbs on low-risk events and businesses will be eased. "The burden on hospitals is still high, but the most serious cases are declining and there has been a turn for the better in intensive care," health minister Hanna Sarkkinen wrote in a statement on Twitter.
The Nordic nation of 5.5 million has maintained some of the European Union's lowest incidence rates throughout the pandemic, but infections have increased in recent weeks due to the Omicron variant.
On 18 January, the Finnish government extended a slew of virus curbs introduced in December, including reduced opening hours for restaurants and bars as well as caps on public gatherings.